Dental bridgework.



G. W. TODD.

DENTAL BRIDGEWORK. APPLICATION FILED mmzs. 1914.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

GEOltt'tE W. TODD, 3F OMAHA, NEBILASKA.

DENTAL BRIDGEWORK.

Application flied. "March 1/ all whom it ma: concern Be it known t at I, Gnoncn W. Tenn, it citizen of the United States, Jvasidingz; at Omaha, in the county of .l' ouglns and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Bridgework. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to in'iprovcuicnts in dental bridge work and has for its object to provide such a construction that porcelain bases may be maintained side by side to have the appearance of natural teeth, the binding or supporting medium. consisting of connected metallic caps. The invention in cludes the provision of suitable facets formed on the tops of the bases and corresponding facets formed on the bottoms of the caps, so that these contacting par s uni have suitable engagements or hearings and means for securing each base to a cap.

The invention consists of the novel con-- struction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the drawing, wl.1c:rein,--

' Figure 1 is a plan view of a bridge. Fig. :2 is a front elevation of the some. Figs. 3 and l are views, respectively, of a cup and a base, to clearly show the construction ol these parts, the views being on an enlarged scale and in longitudinal section on line 3 4 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and t5 ai'e'views in longitudinal section respectively of the cap and base, the View being on line 5 6 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 a view in longitudinal section of a plurality of connected caps to form the metallic part of a bridge, this being a modified form of the invention. Fig. 8 is a view in longitudinal section of one of the cups shown in Fig. 7, said section being taken through one of the T-shaped slots or recesses. Fig. 9 shows three bases in longitudinal section provided with facets and lugs for engaging the re spective facets and grooves of the caps shown in Fig. 7. Fig. .10 is a view in longitudinal section of one of the bases shown in Fig. 9, the section being {Lt right angles to the section shown in said Fig. 9.

.Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, the bridge shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a plurality of teeth 1 disposed between two terminal crowns 3, each of the teeth 1 cmisisting of a base 3 and a cap 4.

The bases are preferably constructed oi? porcelain, their bottoms being oi saddle Specification cl Letters Patent.

113M. Serial No. 8527.117.

shape so that they may bear iirinl}; on the gums. As shown in the drawing. their tops are provided with taccts o and i'uccts or re- ('utu'ritr-l I), hurt I bring ot convened Form and disposed at right angles to the longitudinal unis of tho base. and facets or recesses h each providing a wall which is inclined outwin'dly' and (hm'nwanlly with reference to l'zu-ct o and cpdondiugr ul lst.'1ntiall v from. the trout to the rear sides oi cuch base; and as shown in Figs. i and t3 prongs or pins 0 are dinposcil above the facets wwhilc mounted in the buses.

lhc cups are prcicruhly constructcxl. of metal and as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 they are provided with the facet (I of convex form and. outwru'dly of said facet, are provided with projiuctions or ilungcs c. and when a base is placed in contact with the cup to which it belongs, the surface of its facet a will engage the surface of the facet (Z oi the cap. the flanges of the cap being adapted to till the recess I of the base. the prongs or pins of the base engaging in apci' tux-cs or recesses /1 oi the caps.

Since the facet of each base is formed angular with rc'lcrciute to its recesses. the relation of the facet of each cup being also angular with reference to its tlnugcs, they are adapted to sustain the stresses incident to their use, when assembled. and this con struction is n'cterrcd for the further reason that these projections provide an additional (urea for connecting with solder when the metallic cups are connected side by side. lit is obvious however that other recesses could be employed than those shown, and the Hunilt would be practically the same, and I do not wish to he understood as limiting nryr'scli to the number oi facets, recesses or flanges to be employed, nor to any particular curvature or conformation of surfaces tor the inner contacting ends of the buses and caps.

in the practice o'l' the invention, it will be u mlcrstood that the metallic caps and crowns :1 lllil be disposed side by side and secured together by solder .1 or the metallic parts may be cast or molded as an integral structurc. and the bases fl are then separately secured to the cups by any suitable means, as by use of solder or cement, to form a cmnplcto bridge.

in the luodiiicd form oil" the invention. Fig. i sluiws a. plurality of metallic caps 4" and crowns 1?. disposed side by side and lltl secured together bysolder-m, or these me-' tallic parts may be cast or molded as an integral structure. They are. each provided at their sides with flanges e and an inter i'i'iediate facet d and with slots or recesses 5 0t T-shape opening on their facet d and posterior side- At 3 are indicated porcelain bases each having a bottom oi saddle shape and having a top provided with a facet In. and having facets or recesses Z) at its sides which. open on its t'acet u. and having prongs a" substantially of T shape.

llach base 3 may have a slidable movement with reference to the particular cap 4, to which it belongs, of the metallic part of the bridge. to dispose its prongs in the elongated T-shaped slots and after the bases are thus mounted they may be secured thereon by soldering. cementingor other suitable means. \Yhile the holding means provided by the modification is somewhat ditferent than the means first described. it is not considered to be a departure. vfor the. reason that the invention discloses a bridge consisting of two-part. teeth provided at their inner contacting ends with interlocking devices and the. particular form for these interlocking parts is largelv a matter of choice.

Among sonip of tbeiadvantag s to be derived by use of the invention, it may be stated that bridges constructed as described ma present the appearance of natural teeth, the metallic part being at the posterior side oi. the bridge. also the 'work of constructing bridges greatly simplified and may be morequickly performed: the porcelain bases provide a firm foundation for the bridge. and the metallic part thereof does not come. in contact with the gums.

It will be noted that since plorcclain is the only material making engagement with the gums. the metallic pockets ordinarily 'lormed adjacent to the gums, and in which 'lermentation occurs from deposits of food. are by this construction. wholly avoided.

l-laving Fully described my invention, wh t I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent i's.--

having recesses opening on said facets, a

plurality of base-members each having an end provided with a surface conforming substantiallv to the shape of the facets'of the caps for a mounting on one of said caps and prmided with prongs adapted to enla ge in the recesses of said caps.

2. A dental bridge comprising. in combination with a plurality of connected metallic caps disposed side by side, said caps being; formed with flanges on their inner ends extending between their anterior and posterior sides and having recesses opening on said ends. a plurality of base-members each having an end provided with recesses conforming, sul'istantially to the shape oi the flanges of the raps for a mounting on one of said caps. and provided with prongs adapted to engage in the recesses of said caps.

3. A dental bridge comprising. incombination with a plur: lity of: connected metallic caps disposed side by side. :id caps being formed con .'e. :ed on their inner ends and having recesses opening on said convcxed ends. a plurality of base-men'ibcrs each having an end provided with a. concaved surface. for a mounting on one of said caps and provided with prongs adapted to engage in the recesses of said caps.

4 A, dental bridge com-prising, in combination with a 'iluralit-y of connected metallic caps disposed side by side. each being provided with holding-devices, a plurality of base-members each being provided with holding-devices and adapted to have a mounting of one of its ends on the end of one of said caps. saidholding-devices on said base-members and caps moving into engagement/tor connecting each base-momber with one of said metallic caps.

in testimo n. whereof. I have aflixed my signature in ')resence of two witnesses.

GEORGE \V. TODD.

Witnesses 2 Hiumr A. S'rmzens. mcr. F. Nansen. 

